Hitching device.



-TED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

CHARLES'W. BLOCK, 0F NEENAH, WISCONSIN.

HITCHING DEVICE.

Y* Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 1a, '1915.

Application filed January 12, 1915'. Serial N0. 1,856.

' hitching devices.

One `object of the invention is 'to provide a simple device of this character in which the hitching strap is automatically wound into the weight. Y

Another object is to provide novel means for winding the strap into the weight.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8 3 of Fig. 1,

and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on thel line 4 4 0f Fig. 2. Y

Referring particularly to the' accompanying drawing, 10 represents a box which may be made of any suitable material'but preferably metal so that it will possess considerable weight. A. cover 11 is hinged to the upper sidevof the box and centrally of the free edge of the cover there is a downwardly and outwardly projecting lip 12 which carries a transversely arranged roller 13. The upper edge of the box, below the free edge of the cover is turned inward slightly and also carries a roller 14. Hooks 15 are provided for engagement with pins 16 to hold the cover in closed position. Rotatably mounted within the box is a drum 17, the flange 18 of which is slightly thicker than the iiange 19 and has formed on its peripheral face a plurality of openings 20.

TheseA openings are adapted to receive the inturned end of a pivoted detent 21 mounted on the inner face of the front wall of the box. Pivotally connected to the upper end of the detent and extending ythrough the to engage and disengage the lower end of the detent with respect to the flange of the drum. Secured at one end to the drum and wound thereon is a hitching strap 23,' the other end of which is passed between the rollers land 14 and has its terminal provided with a snap hook 24 for engagement with the ring of abridle as will be readily .Y

understood.- On the inner face of the rear wall of the box is a bracket 25 on which is cured. The opposite end of the spring is secured to a lug 31 formed on the lower angular side of the quadrant. This spring 'normally contracts and swings the quadrant down on its pivot so that the upper portion of the toothed base is normally in mesh with the pinion 28. When the strap 23 is pulled through the opening between the rollers 13 and 14, the drum will be turned so that the strap will be unwound. This turning of the drum rotates the pinion 28 and swings the quadrant upwardly `on its pivot against the tension of the spring 30. When the strap is released the spring 30 will draw the quadrant down again turning the drum and rewinding the strap. By pushing in the operating rod 22 the detent can be released from the flange of the drum so that. the strap can be readily pulled out or permitted to rewind within the box.

What is claimed is: Y In a deviceof the class described, a drumV rotatably mounted in the box and carrying a pinion, a quadrant pivotally mounted at its nected to the box and to the quadrant fork rotating the drum to rewind the strap.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa-V ture, inthe presence of two witnesses.

,' CHARLES w. BLOCK.

Witnesses: Y

JOI-IN F. KUHR, n S.. A. Coon. l

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents eachfby addressing the i Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. CQ 

